Topological phase transitions, Majorana modes, and quantum simulation of the Su-Schrieffer-Heeger model with nearest-neighbor interactions

The Su-Schrieffer-Heeger (SSH) model is one of the simplest topological lattice models and is a promising candidate for quantum simulations of topological systems. In this study we investigate an interacting SSH model with nearest-neighbor interactions using mean field theory and an exact diagonalization method after the Jordan-Wigner transformation. We obtain a rich phase diagram with six different phases. Majorana bound states are found and confirmed by analyzing wave functions and Majorana number. In addition, we propose to use superconducting devices to construct a one-dimensional quantum circuit, where Cooper pair boxes and Josephson junctions are alternately connected in series, to theoretically simulate the interacting SSH model. This approach also provides us a toolkit to simulate correlated topological systems.